Merrill Cain, a spokesman for the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, speaks to reporters on the Belle Isle racetrack during a tour of Detroit taken by MLive employees from across the state Thursday.(David Muller | MLive.com)

DETROIT, MI -- Handing Belle Isle over to the state wouldn't affect the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, said Merrill Cain, a spokesman for the Indycar event today, but he believes it would help the iconic island park.

"I think it would be the best thing overall for Belle Isle, in my opinion. Either way, it doesn't really affect our operation," Cain told reporters while standing on the track during a tour of Detroit taken today by MLive Media Group employees from across the state.